University of Waterloo Faculty of Environment

Dr. Kelsey Leonard, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Waters, Climate and Sustainability, and professor in the Faculty of Environment, is another of the four phenomenal women that we sat down with to learn what International Women’s Day means to her and what advancements in her field she hopes for in the future.   “I’ve committed myself to starting to build a list, an "honor roll" as one media outlet called it, of Indigenous women scientists who are world builders. Today that list is in the hundreds and, 7 generations from now,  I'm sure it'll be in the thousands, if not millions. In fact, it already has been, is, and will be. It's just about perspective and how we choose to not only uplift but recognize the intergenerational hidden stories of women and girls among us.”  “Women and girls are already leaders. We are water protectors. My hope is that future changes or advancements for the protection of water will recognize and empower those existing leaders, unsung heroes, those who persist, resist and remain ever hopeful.” https://lnkd.in/gKXFTHn2 #UWaterloo #IWD2025   #AccelerateAction

How challenging is it to buy solely Canadian at the grocery store? Dr. Jennifer Clapp tells The Globe and Mail that Canada’s labelling rules are anything but clear, creating headaches for boycotters. https://lnkd.in/gmkBa4gZ #UWaterloo

Apparel engineer, educator and Environment alumni, Sabine Weber (MES ‘15, PhD '22), is one of four phenomenal women in Environment that we had the privledge of sitting down with to learn what International Women’s Day means to her and what advancements in her field she hopes for in the future.   “Beyond teaching, I think a lot about the broader issues in the fashion industry. Fashion has always employed millions of women to sew garments, often providing them with their first source of income—even when they cannot read or write. And while this is empowering, it’s also deeply troubling. Too many of these women are exploited, earning far below a living wage and working under unsafe or unfair conditions. My wish is to see them paid fairly and treated with dignity—to have access to decent working environments where their contributions are truly valued.” Read more about Dr. Weber, winner of the 2024 Recent Alumni Inspiration Award as she reflects on the role of women in the fashion industry and the opportunities and barriers to creating positive change: https://lnkd.in/gTCqE_Gp #UWaterloo #IWD2025  #AccelerateAction

The frozen ground can’t absorb melting snow leading to potential runoff and flooding issues explains Dr. Jason Thistlethwaite to the Toronto Star. “My major concern would be wet basements,” he said, noting snow piled against the end of driveways or at the edge of a home’s foundation could penetrate through cracks and weaknesses. “This is actually a broader problem across the country,” he said. “The best defence we have against this type of stuff is spending by our governments to improve our stormwater and flood management infrastructure — something that remains well underfunded.” https://lnkd.in/g-6cZeGw #UWaterloo

Big universities in the United States were never going to choose athletic conferences based on carbon accounting according to Dr. Seth Wynes. “It’s unfortunate if they can make easy changes to the schedule that would cut pollution, but choose not to,” he says. https://lnkd.in/dA_3QUXe #UWaterloo 

"Today, the world produces more food per person than ever before. Yet hunger and malnutrition persist in every corner of the globe — even, and increasingly, in some of its wealthiest countries." In this article Dr. Jennifer Clapp states that the causes of hunger are fundamentally political and economic. From the misallocation of food, the need to address inequity, the use of hunger as a weapon of war to trade issues, Dr. Clapp makes it clear that bold political action is needed, not just scientific breakthroughs, to address persistent global hunger. Dr. Clapp is a sustainable food systems researcher, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security and Sustainability, a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. Read the article: https://lnkd.in/eKn8aWM7

Algal blooms in the United Kingdom's River Thames are increasing due to climate change despite decades long decline in phosphorus loads. “This research documents 150 years of remarkable changes in river water quality. This is of particular importance and timeliness given the challenges we now face in managing water quality in a warming climate, and contemporary water quality concerns in Britain and around the world,” Dr. Helen Jarvie says commenting on her new study. Dr. Jarvie is a professor of Water and Global Environmental Change and University Research Chair in Global Water Quality in the Faculty of Environment. Read more about this discovery: https://lnkd.in/dGBxHkCG Read Dr. Jarvie's research paper: https://lnkd.in/dyuvY8Fs

Farm to table, with a side of fossil fuels... a little Friday listening recommendation for everyone! Dr. Jennifer Clapp, professor in the Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo joins the award winning Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) podcast TILclimate to talk about how to growth and distribution of our food is dependent on fossil fuels and uses a tortilla chip as an example to illustrate this dependance, which often feels invisible. Dr. Clapp is a sustainable food systems researcher, a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Global Food Security and Sustainability, a member of the International Panel of Experts on Sustainable Food Systems (IPES-Food), and the Scientific Advisory Committee of the UN Food Systems Coordination Hub. Check out the season 7 premiere at the link below: https://lnkd.in/gFzRAYtt

How did a small handful of giant transnational corporations come to dominate the farm inputs sector? Dr. Jennifer Clapp’s new book, Titans of Industrial Agriculture, details the ascent, why it matters and what can be done about it. https://lnkd.in/gmWUS5ga #UWaterloo

Congratulations to Dr. Blair Feltmate, head of the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation | Centre Intact d’adaptation au climat for being awarded the prestigious King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of his pivotal role in advancing climate change adaptation efforts nationwide. Read more about Dr. Feltmate and his work: https://lnkd.in/gQVgjMe9 Several other outstanding members of the Waterloo community have also been recognized for those efforts with the King Charles III Coronation Medal. See the complete list of recipients: https://lnkd.in/gb8Hbzwr